Flexor muscles
Flexor Muscles
Flexor muscles (pronunciation: /ˈfleksər ˈmʌsəlz/) are a group of muscles that enable flexion, or bending, at a joint. They are located across various parts of the body, including the hand, forearm, and leg.
Etymology
The term "flexor" is derived from the Latin word "flectere", which means "to bend". The term "muscle" comes from the Latin "musculus", meaning "little mouse", possibly due to the appearance of certain muscles under the skin.
Function
Flexor muscles contract to decrease the angle between two bones at a joint, effectively "bending" the joint. This is in contrast to extensor muscles, which increase the angle and "straighten" the joint.
Types of Flexor Muscles
There are several types of flexor muscles, including:
- Flexor carpi radialis: This muscle enables the hand to bend towards the forearm.
- Flexor carpi ulnaris: This muscle also allows the hand to bend towards the forearm, but it is located on the opposite side of the forearm to the flexor carpi radialis.
- Flexor digitorum superficialis: This muscle allows the fingers to bend.
- Flexor digitorum profundus: This muscle also enables the fingers to bend, but it is located deeper in the forearm than the flexor digitorum superficialis.
- Flexor hallucis longus: This muscle enables the big toe to bend.
- Flexor digitorum longus: This muscle allows the other toes to bend.
Related Terms
- Flexion: The action of bending, typically at a joint.
- Extensor muscles: Muscles that enable extension, or straightening, at a joint.
- Muscle contraction: The process by which muscles become shorter and tighter in order to effect movement of the body.
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